Historic treasure

This breakfast service is alleged to have been captured with the camp equipage at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.

The beautiful porcelain service has been chosen by Wisbech and Fenland Museum volunteer Anna Smith as her favourite item in the museum.

S�vres "Breakfast Service of Napoleon I". ANL-140331-151530001

She said: “My favourite object in the museum is the Sèvres “Breakfast Service of Napoleon I”.

“This is because it sets my imagination rolling back to the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. I imagine Napoleon eating and drinking on the morning of his defeat. I picture the “service” being found in the captured baggage train, with smoke still billowing around and various allied soldiers looting the baggage.

“It is really pretty decorated porcelain; green, burgundy and white with a lot of gold leaf. The patterns appear to be cupids or gods doing various peculiar actions, such dancing with goats, drinking sitting on a barrel, duelling and one cupid plays the cymbals while a dancing dog carries a spear!”